Before we made the upgrade to Vitamix and Blendtec (which took a year), we rawked out with our basic blenders. They did what we needed them too— and for a really good price. Finding an affordable blender that works great and has a long life is possible! And this list is just a sampling of them. The best advice we can give when choosing a blender is to find one that lines up with your lifestyle. Figure out how many people you are making smoothies for, how much power you are looking for, and how much money you can spend. So, which will it be?

**Special thanks to our Facebook rawkstars who helped us compile this fabulous list.**

Favorite Compact Blenders

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NutriBullet–$80
There is a lot of buzz about the NutriBullet Blender by Magic Bullet, and for good reason. This is the second compact blender that Magic Bullet has put out, and it is best known for its power to pulverize.
PROS: High power (600 watts), multiple pitcher sizes (24 oz and 18 oz) and blades, compact in size, and easy to use and clean.
CONS: Overheating and leaking issues have been reported, which shorten the life-span.
Click here to see this blender on Amazon

Magic Bullet–$29
The Magic Bullet is the original bullet blender, and is famous for its ease and efficiency.
PROS: Easy to use and clean, multiple pitcher sizes (18 oz and 12 oz) and blades, compact in size, and people have reported that it has a long life-span.
CONS: Less powerful than other compact blenders (250 watts), which makes smoothies less creamy and consistent.
Click here to see this blender on Amazon

Cuisinart Compact Blending/Chopping System–$69
Cuisinart recently joined the compact blender scene with this design. Its reviews have earned it a reputation for being a solid blender in all categories.
PROS: Strong power (350 watts), multiple pitcher sizes (32 oz, 16 oz, and 8 oz) and blades, multiple blend settings, and a good life-span.
CONS: Not as popular as other compact blenders and small number of overheating issues.
Click here to see this blender on Amazon

Favorite Stand Blenders

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Ninja NJ600 Professional Blender–$79
Ninja has a knack for producing blenders that are fast, razor sharp, and secure. Buying this blender is money well spent.
PROS: Powerful (1000 watts), uses three sets of blades at once, large pitcher (72 oz), long life-span, and customer satisfaction.
CONS: Some have mentioned it struggles with blending kale, and to be careful while cleaning.
Click here to see this blender on Amazon

KitchenAid Artisan Blender–$99
KitchenAid has a respected name, and continues that respect with their Artisan blender. It is fun, trendy, and a solid machine.
PROS: Lots of color options, decent power (approximately 700 watts), large pitcher (52 oz), easy clean-up, and long life-span.
CONS: Some have reported minor leaking issues.
Click here to see this blender on Amazon

Oster Counterforms 7- Speed Blender–$60
Affordable and function–the two best words to describe this brushed stainless blender.
PROS: Low price for good quality, decent life-span, and large pitcher (approximately 48 oz).
CONS: Low power (600 watts) and somewhat tough to clean with small base.
Click here to see this blender on Amazon

Favorite Hand Blenders

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KitchenAid 5 speed Hand Blender—$91
This hand blender is a bit different than any other blender on our list. We recommend this blender for anyone who is traveling on a consistent basis.
PROS: Can pack it in your suitcase, any container can be used as a pitcher, several blades, quiet motor, easy to clean.
CONS: Low power, a bit messy, and takes more time to blend.
Click here to see this blender on Amazon

Cuisinart Smart Stick- $35
The price is right for this immersion blender and it's perfect for times when you have to travel light.
PROS: You can blend your smoothie right in your mason jar (just make sure to add ingredients in stages (leafy greens and liquid first, then one fruit at a time). A great array of color choices— it's amazing!
CONS: This little guy only has 200-watts of power — be prepared to blend for a while and shy away from using frozen fruits or ice.
Click here to see this blender on Amazon

Not ready to buy a new blender yet?

Here's 3 tips that can make your blender last a little longer:

1. Avoid leafy chunks by blending your leafy greens and liquid base first. Then add your remaining ingredients and blend again.
2. Defrost your big frozen fruits in the fridge the night before (like mangoes and strawberries).
3. Look for the “blender vortex” to know you have enough liquid inside. Add a little more liquid to your blender if the motor seems stuck (water, your favorite nut milk, etc)

Side note: It wasn't until a year into drinking green smoothies that I upgraded to a high-speed blender. So be patient if a Blendtec or Vitamix are not in your budget yet.

Join the conversation

Which blender do you use for your green smoothies? What are the pros and cons? Share it in the comments below.